Apparatus for removing alpha covering from alpha core



Oct. 10, 1933. 1 s n-z, JR 1,929,916

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING A COVERING FROM A CORE Filed Dec. 10, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 10, 1933.

L. S. DEITZ, JR

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING A COVERING FROM A CORE Filed Dec. 10. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 10, 1933.

L. S. DEITZ, JR

API'ARATUS FOR REMOVING A COVERING FROM A CORE Filed Dec. 10, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 10, 1933. L 5 rrz, JR ii filfi APPARATUS FOR REMOVING A COVERING FROM A CORE Filed Dec. 10, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 10, 1933. s. DEITZ, JR

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING A COVE ING FROM A CORE Filed Dec. 10, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 NNm H n A m m m M n f NQ WM 1 M Q? ,Q n m L 5 Patented Oct. 10, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR REMOVING A COVERING I FROM A CORE Application December 10, 1930 Serial No. 501,308

32 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for removing a covering from a core, and more particularly to an apparatus for removing sheath from a lead covered cable.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple, eificient, and practical apparatus for removing sheath from a core and shearing the sheath and the core separately in desired lengths.

According to the object of the invention, rolls are provided for preliminarily compressing a cable and advancing the compressed cable between a pair of prickle rolls having radially extending pins in their peripheries which further press the cable while the sheath is slit at opposite sides thereof to form substantially fiat strips, the strips of sheath being firmly engaged by radially extending pins of the rolls to separate the strips from the core and advance the strips between rotary cutters where the strips are cut into predetermined lengths, separated from the prickle rolls and directed into chutes. The core, after being freed from the sheath, is guided between advancing rolls which move the core over a stationary knife at a predetermined speed to allow a rotary shearing member to cooperate with the stationary knife to shear the core in predetermined lengths.

A feature of the invention is the provision of means actuated by a common lever for simultaneously and accurately imparting relative movement to the preliminary compressing rolls, the prickle rolls, the rotary cutters and the slitting members to accommodate various sized cables.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings where- 111 Fig. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the apparatus diagrammatically;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a portion of the apparatus illustrating the power means and the connections to the various shafts;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the apparatus;

Fig. 1 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

6 is a sectional view taken along the line 66 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 7 7 of Fig. 3 showing merely the adjustable mechanism;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary top plan view of one of the prickle rolls and the associated forked member.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, a housing 15 (Fig.

2) supports a motor 16 equipped with a magnetic brake mechanism 17. The shaft of the motor 16 is operatively connected to a shaft 18, journaled in the housing 15, by a pinion 19 of the motor shaft interengaging an idler gear 20 with which is meshed a gear 21 keyed to the shaft 18. Upon the shaft 18 is also keyed a pinion 23 which interengages a gear 24 keyed to a shaft 25 upon which a pinion 26 is keyed, the pinion 26 interengaging a gear 27 which is keyed to a shaft 28. A smaller gear 32 is keyed to the shaft 28 and interengages a gear 33 of equal size which is keyed to a shaft 34 disposed in parallel relation with the shaft 28. A relatively large idler gear 35 interengages the gear 33 and at a diametrically opposed position interengages a gear 36, the gear 36 being keyed to a shaft 3'7. At diametrically opposed positions gears 38 and 39 interengage the gear 36 and are keyed to shafts 40 and 41, respectively, the gear 38 interengaging a gear 42 which is keyed to a shaft 43. Disposed in parallel relation with the shafts 3'7 and 40 are shafts 45 and 46, respectively, operatively connected together by interengaging gears 47 and 48, the gear 47 being operatively connected to the gear 36 by an idler gear 49. This completes the power unit to which the preliminary compressing rolls, prickle rolls, rotary cutters, advancing rolls and a rotary shearing member are operatively connected as will be described hereinafter.

In Fig. 3 the entrance of the housing 15 is indicated generally at 55 in which is disposed a platform 56, the inner end of which terminates adjacent rolls 57 and 58. The roll 58 has an irregular or toothed periphery and is keyed to a shaft 59 journaled in bearings in a movable support 60 (Figs. 8 and 6). A universal connecting member 61 having one end keyed to the shaft 59 and the other end keyed to the shaft 45 (Fig. 2) operatively connects the primary roll 58 to the power mechanism. The primary roll 57, which has an irregular or toothed periphery, is keyed to a shaft which is journaled in bearing blocks 66 movably disposed in a movable support 67. A universal connecting member 68 having one end keyed to the shaft 65 and the other end keyed to the shaft 46 (Figs. 2 and 6) operatively connects the shaft 65 with the power mechanism. The upper surfaces of the bearing blocks 66 (Fig. 6) are tapered and engage tapered surfaces of adjusting cams '70 which are disposed in the movable supporting member 6'? and arranged to be moved relative to each other, for imparting a simultaneous movement to the bearing blocks 66, by an adjusting screw '71 having right-hand and left-hand threaded portions receivable in similarly threaded apertures in the cams '70.

Disposed at spaced positions from the primary rolls 57 and 58 are prickle rolls and 76 which are keyed to shafts '77 and '73, respectively, journaled in bearings in the supporting members 60 and 67. Universal connecting members 79 and 80 are keyed to the shafts '77 and '78, respectively, and operatively connect these shafts with shafts 40 and 37, respectively,

by being keyed thereto (Fig. 4). The prickle rolls '75 and '76 are provided with toothed or irregular surfaces and have in their peripheries annular spaced recesses (Figs. 3, 4 and 10). At spaced positions on the peripheries of the prickle rolls 75 and '76 are abutting portions 86 extending the full width of the prickle rolls with the exception of the recesses 85. Radially extending pins 8'7 are carried by the prickle rolls '75 and '76 and have tapered ends which extend beyond the peripheries thereof. Positioned adjacent the upper portion of the prickle roll 75 is a forked member 91 having a portion cut away to conform partially to the prickle roll and fingers 92 receivable in the annular recesses 85 and extending beyond the vertical center line of the roll. The fingers 92 have their upper surfaces fiush with the abutting members 86 when the abutting members are moved adjacent thereto for providing a continuous abutting surface for the full width of the prickle roll 75. Located adjacent the upper surface of the forked member 91, which is tapered, is a chute 93 (Figs. 3 and 5) for a purpose hereinafter described. Directly above the prickle roll 75 is situated a rotary cutter 94 having radially extending blades which are arranged to be moved in close engagement with the abutting members 86 and the fingers 92 when rotated. The rotary cutter 94 is mounted upon a shaft 96 (Fig. 4) which has keyed thereto one end of a universal connecting member 97, the other end of the member being keyed to the shaft 43, thus providing an operative connection between the shaft 96 and the power mechanism.

Located adjacent the lower portion of the prickle roll 76 is a forked member 98 similar in construction to the forked member 91 and having a portion cut away to partially conform to the prickle roll 76 with fingers 99 extending into the annular recesses 85 of the prickle roll 76 to form abutting surfaces for the full width of the prickle roll when the abutting members 86 are moved adjacent thereto. Disposed beneath the prickle roll '76 is a rotary cutter 100 having radially extending cutting blades arranged to be moved in close engagement with the fingers 99 and the abutting members 86 of the prickle roll 76 when the rotary cutter is actuated. The rotary cutter 100 is mounted upon a shaft 102, which has keyed thereto one end of a universal connecting member 103, the other end of the member being keyed to the shaft 41, thus providing an operative connection of the shaft 102 with the power mechanism (Figs. 2 and 4). Located beneath the forked member 98 is a chute 105 into which tapered directing walls 106 extend.

Situated upon each side of the primary rolls 5'? and 58 and the prickle rolls '75 and 76 are slitting units indicated generally at 110 (Figs. 8 and 9) and consisting of knife supporting members 111 disposed between parallel plates 112 and 113 which are secured together at their ends to form frames or casings for the knife supporting members. The knife supporting members 111 are cut away as indicated at 114 for receiving slitting knives 115 which are rotatably mounted in bearingsa Covers 116 are secured to the knife supporting members 111 by means of screws or the like, and cooperate with the knife supporting members 111 for journaling the bearings in which the knives 115 are mounted. The ends of the knife supporting members 111, opposite the ends supporting the slitting knives 115, have elongated apertures 118 therein in which are disposed eccentric adjusting members 119 serving as pivots for the units 110 and arranged to be actuated for varying the relative positions of the units. The eccentrics 119 are fixed to shafts 120 upon which are mounted worm gears 121 interengaging worms 122 of a horizontal adjusting shaft 123, the adjusting shaft 123 being journaled in the housing 15 and having one end, square in general contour, projecting through the housing and arranged to receive a wrench or the like for the purpose of adjustment. The knife supporting members 111 are rigidly secured within their respective casings by pins 125, which extend through the plates 112 and 113 and the knife supporting members 111, and are arranged to be removed for a purpose hereinafter described. Carried by the plates 112 and 113 are tapered guide members 127 having substantially V-shaped ends extending between and disposed in close engagement with the primary rolls 5'? and 58 and the prickle rolls '75 and 76 for guiding the cable between the prickle rolls and the slitting knives. A spring 128 is arranged to urge the units 110 away from each other. This movement of the units away from each other is governed by cams 131 in engagement with which cam abutting members 132 are disposed, these members being positioned between the plates 112 and 113 of the units 110 and rigidly secured thereto.

The cams 131 are fixedly mounted upon vertically extending racks 135, the upper ends of which interengage gears 136 (Fig. '7), which are mounted upon the ends of a shaft 137. Adjacent the center of the shaft 137 is a pinion 138 which interengages a rack 139 carried by an upper block moving cam 140. Near the lower portions of the racks is positioned a shaft 142 having gears 143 mounted thereupon and interengaging the racks 135. At the center of the shaft 142 is a pinion 144 interengaging a rack 145 carried by a lower supporting block moving cam 146.

The upper supporting member 6'7 is movably disposed in the housing 15 and has cut-away portions or slots (Figs. 4, 5 and G) which are tapered downwardly to the left (Fig. 3 and receive similarly tapered projections 151 of the cam 140. The supporting member 67 is in this manner carried by the cam 140 and the cam in turn is carried by inwardly projecting platforms 152 disposed at the end of the supporting member 67 (Fig. 3) and fixed to the walls of the housing 15. The upper wall of the supporting member 67 is cut away as at 153 for receiving the upper portion of the cam 140 and a downwardly projecting guide 154.

The lower supporting member 60 is movably disposed in the housing 15 and is supported by tapered projections 160 of the cam 146 which are receivable in tapered recesses 161 of the lower supporting member. The tapered recesses 161 and the tapered projections 160 extend downwardly to the left (Fig. 3). The lower portion of the lower supporting member 60 is cut away to receive the cam 146 and an upwardly projecting portion 162 of the housing 15, the cam 146 and the lower supporting member 60 being supported by the upwardly extending projecting portion 162. A hand-operated lever 163 has one end fixed to the shaft 164 which is journaled in the housing 15 and has keyed thereto a lever 165. A pin 166 is carried by the lower end of the lever 164 and is receivable in a recess 167 positioned in one end of the cam 146.

The cams 140 and 146 are connected operatively to each other through the mechanism shown in Fig. '7 and by the actuation of the hand lever 163 the cams 140 and 146 and the cams 131 are simultaneonsly actuated.

Adjacent the prickle rolls and 76 is a guide chute 170 (Figs. 1 and 3) which guides the core of the cable between advancing rolls 171 and 172 for advancing the core over a stationary knife 173. The advancing rolls 171 and 172 are mounted upon shafts 174 and 175, respectively, which are operatively connected to the shafts 28 and 34, respectively, by universal connecting members similar to those shown in Fig. 4. A rotary shearing member 176 mounted upon a shaft 177 which is connected operatively to the shaft 18 by a universal connecting member similar to those shown in Fig. 4, has diametrically opposed cutting blades 178 arranged to be moved in close engagement with the stationary knife 173 for cutting the core into predetermined lengths. A chute 179 extends downwardly from a stationary knife 173 for guiding the cut portions of the core into any suitable receiving means (not shown).

During the operation of the apparatus, the motor 16 is energized, causing rotation of the primary rolls 57 and 58, the prickle rolls '75 and 76, the rotary cutters 94 and 100, the advancing rolls 171 and 172, and the rotary shearing member 176, due to their connection operatively with the power mechanism shown in Fig. 2. A cable indicated generally at 180 (Fig. 1) and consisting of a sheath 181 and a core 182 may have one end placed by an operator upon the platform 56 and guided, thereby, between the primary rolls 57 and 58, which are adjusted in their relative positions depending upon the size of the cable, for compressing the cable as it passes therebetween. The primary rolls 57 and 58 not only compress the cable, but advance it between the guides 127 (Fig. 8) of the slitting units 110 and between the prickle rolls 75 and 76 Where the cable is compressed further and advanced between the slitting knives 115. As the cable passes between the prickle rolls 75 and 76 the radially extending pins 87 press into the sheath 181, thus holding the flattened portions of the sheath 181 in close engagement with the peripheries of the prickle rolls after the sheath has been slit upon opposite sides by the slitting knives 115. In this manner the two portions of the sheath 181 will be moved with the prickle rolls 75 and 76 until the portions of the sheath engage the fingers 92 and 99 of the forked members 91 and 98. The fingers 92 and 99 extending into the recess 85 of the prickle rolls remove the ends of the sheathed portions and after the portions of the sheath have passed over the fingers 92 and 99 a predetermined distance, one of the blades of each of the rotary cutters 94 and 100 will cut the sheathed portions and the out portions will be directed down the chutes 93/and 105 into a hopper shown at 185 in Fig. 5. During the continued rotation of the prickle rolls 75 and 76, the flattened sheath 181 is slit into portions which portions are continuously advanced over the fingers 92 and 99 so that the rotary cutters 94 and 100 during their rotation, will cut the portions of the sheath into predetermined lengths.

The core 182, after having been freed from the sheath 181, is moved between the advancing rolls 171 and 172 and over the stationary knife 173 where it is cut into predetermined lengths during the rotation of the rotatable shearing member 176. In this manner a separate shearing means is provided for the core.

The apparatus may be adjusted to accommodate various sized cables. As shown in the drawings, the apparatus is arranged to receive and operate upon a relatively small c: ole, but in order to accommodate a larger cabli the operator may move the lever 163 to the .oft (Fig. 3) a predetermined distance, depending upon the size of the cable. Movement of the lever 163 in this direction will impart movement to the cam 146 to the right (Fig. 3), thus allowing the supporting member 60 and the members carried thereby to be moved downwardly a predetermined distance, thus moving the primary roll 58 and the prickle roll 76 away from the center line of travel of the cable. During the movement of the cam 146 and due to the operative connection of the racks 135 and the cams 131 with the cam 146 as shown in Figs. 3 and 7, an upward movement is imparted to the cams 131. Due to the contour of the cams 131 the slitting units 110 will be allowed to move outwardly a predetermined distance about the eccentrics 119 as pivots so as to move the slitting knives 115 away from each other and away from the center line of travel of the cable. Due to the operative connection of the cam 140 with the racks 135, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7, the cam 140 is moved to the left (Fig. 3) the same distance that the cam .146 is moved to the right. This movement of the cam 140 moves the supporting member 67 upwardly the same distance in which the supporting member 60 is moved downwardly, thus moving the primary roll 57 and the prickle roll 75 away from the center line of travel of the cable 180 the same distance in which the primary roll 58 and the prickle roll 76 is moved away therefrom. The cams 131 are so constructed that the movement of the slitting units 110 will be greater than the movement of the supports 60 and 67 and the members carried thereby. The angles at which the cams 131 are tapered determine the amount of movement of the slitting units relative to the rolls and the angles of these cams are such that the slitting units will be moved in either direction faster than the movement of the rolls. As the cams 131 move upwardly during the simultaneous movement of the racks 135, the slitting units are moved outwardly by the spring 128 (Fig. 8) relative to each other a greater distance than the movement of the rolls away from their respective rolls. The slitting units are likewise moved towards each other a greater distance than the movement of the sets of rolls relative to each other. This allows for the change in the cross-sectional contour of the cable in that the increase in the lateral width of the cable, while being compressed, is approximately twice that of the vertical thickness.

The primary roll 57 may be adjusted relative to the primary roll 58 by rotating the adjusting screw '71 (Fig. 6) to cause a simultaneous movement of the cams '70, thus moving the primary roll '7 toward or away from the primary roll 58 to get the proper preliminary adjustment.

A similar adjustment is provided for the slitting units 110 as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 wherein the positions of the pivots 119 may be varied simultaneously by the rotation of the shaft 123 which, through the worms 122 and the worm gears 121, will rotate the eccentrics 119 to move the adjacent ends of the slitting units toward or away from each other. The main purpose for this adjustment is to properly position the slitting knives 115 after they have been resharpened. To remove the slitting knives 115 for the purpose of resharpening, the hand lever 163 is moved to the left a sufiicient distance to raise the cam 131, at the left (Fig. '7), above the adjacent slitting unit 110, thus allowing the adjacent slitting unit to be swung outwardly about its pivot. By removing the pin 125 from the freed slitting unit, the knife supporting me1nher 111 thereof may be swung further about the pivot to position the slitting knife 115 thereof free of the casing. While in thi position the cover plate 116 may be removed, thus freeing the slitting knife so that it may be removed and resharpened. The other slitting knife 115 may be removed in a similar manner after a further movement of the handle 163 to the left (Fig. 3) to move the longer cam 131 above the adjacent slitting unit 110. After the slitting knives have been resharpened, as a pair, they may be inserted in place in the reverse order in which they were removed; that is, the slitting unit 110 adjacent the longest cam 131 (Fig. '7) will be assembled first and held in place by the longest cam 131 after a movement of the hand lever 163 to the right, after which the other slitting unit 110 may be assembled and moved into and held in place by a further movement of the hand lever 163 to the right. After this has been accomplished, the hand lever 163 is moved further to the right to properly position the slitting units 110 and the primary and prickle rolls, depending upon the size of cable to be operated on. For the purpose of properly and readily positioning these parts, indications may be placed upon the outer wall of the easing in the direction of the path of the moviment of the hand lever 163 (Fig. 3) so that the operator may determine the proper positions of the hand lever for each size of cable.

The advancing roll 171 (Fig. 1) may be adjusted relative to the advancing roll 172 by vary ing the tension of springs 136 positioned at the ends of the advancing roll 1'71. This is to allow for various sized cores passing therebetween.

While the above invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment thereof, it is understood that varioiis modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for removing a sheath from a core, means for compressing the sheathed core, means for slitting the sheath, means for separating the slit sheath from the core, and means for cutting the slit sheath in predetermined lengths.

2. In an apparatus for removing a sheath from a core, means for compressing the sheathed core, means for slitting the sheath, means for separating the slit sheath from the core, means for cutting the slit sheath in predetermined lengths, and means for cutting the core in predetermined lengths.

3. In an apparatus for removing a sheath from a core, means for compressing the sheathed core, means for slitting the sheath, and means carried by said compressing means for removing the sheath from the core.

4. In an apparatus for removing a sheath from a core, means for compressing the sheathed core, means for slitting the sheath, means carried by said compressing means for removing the sheath from the core, and means for freeing the sheath of said removing means.

5. In an apparatus for removing a sheath from a core, means for compressing the sheathed core, means for slitting the sheath, means carried by said compressing means for removing the sheath from the core, means for cutting the sheath in predetermined lengths, and means for freeing the sheath from said removing means.

6. In an apparatus for removing a sheath from a core, means for compressing the sheathed core, means for slitting the sheath into portions, and means for holding the portions of the sheath in engagement with said compressing means for removing the portions of the sheath from the core.

7. In an apparatus for removing a sheath from a. core. a pair of rolls for compressing the sheathed core, means disposed adjacent said rolls for slitting the sheath in portions, means carried by said rolls for removing the portions of the sheath from the core by holding them in close engagement therewith, and means for cutting the portions of the sheath in predetermined lengths.

8. In an apparatus for removing a sheath from a core, a pair of rolls for compressing the sheathed core, means disposed adjacent said rolls for slitting the sheath in portions, means carried by said rolls 1 or holding the portions of the sheath in close engagement therewith, means for cutting the portions of the sheath in predetermined lengths, and means disposed adjacent said rolls for removing the portions of the sheath from said holding means.

9. In an apparatus for removing a sheath from a core, a pair of rolls for compressing the sheathed core, means disposed adjacent said rolls for slitting the sheath in portions, means carried by said rolls for removing the portions of the sheath from the core by holding them in close engagement therewith. means for cutting the portions of the sheath in predetermined lengths, means for receiving the lengths of sheath, and means for directing the lengths of sheath into said receiving means.

10. In an apparatus for removing a sheath from a core, a pair of rolls for compressing the sheathed core, means for supporting said rolls, means for slitting the sheath while compressed, and means for simultaneously moving both rolls for varying the relative positions of said rolls with each other and with said slitting means.

11. In an apparatus for removing a sheath from a core, a pair of primary rolls for compressing and advancing the sheathed core, means for slitting the sheathed core in portions, a pair of prickle rolls for advancing the sheathed core past said slitting means and each arranged to remove a different portion of the sheath from the core, means associated with said prickle rolls for cutting the portions of the sheath in predetermined lengths, and means for removing the cut lengths of sheath from said prickle rolls.

12. In an apparatus for removing a sheath from a covered core, a pair of rolls for pressing the sheathed core, slitting units for slitting the pressed sheath in portions, supporting members for said pressing rolls, and means for simultaneously moving said supporting members relative to each other, and said slitting units relative to each other.

13. In an apparatus for removing a sheath from a core, pressing units for pressing the sheathed core, slitting units for slitting the sheath, and means for simultaneously varying the relative positions of said pressing units and the relative positions of said slitting units to accommodate various sized sheathed core.

14. In an apparatus for removing a sheath from a core, pressing units for pressing the sheathed core, slitting units for slitting the sheath, means for varying the relative positions of said pressing units and the relative positions of said slitting units to accommodate various sized sheathed core, and means for varying the relative positions of said pressing units independent of said first named varying means.

15. In an apparatus for removing a sheath from a core, pressing units for pressing the sheathed core, slitting units for slitting the sheath, means for varying the relative positions of said pressing units and the relative positions of said slitting units to accommodate various sized sheathed core, and means for varying the relative positions of said slitting units independent of said first named varying means.

16. In an apparatus for removing a sheath from a core, a pair of supporting members movable relative to each other, pressing rolls rotatably carried by said supporting members for pressing a sheathed core, slitting units for slitting the sheath, means carried by said supporting members for removing the sheath from the core, and means for moving said supporting members with said pressing rolls and said removing means relative to each other, and simultaneously moving said slitting units relative to each other.

17. In an apparatus for removing a sheath from a core, a pair of supporting members movable relative to each other, pressing rolls rotatably carried by said supporting members for pressing a sheathed core, slitting units for slitting the sheath, means carried by said supporting members for removing the sheath from the core, and means actuated by a lever for simultaneously moving said supporting members with said pressing rolls and said removing members relative to each other a predetermined distance and for moving said slitting units relative to each other a greater distance.

18. In an apparatus for removing sheath from a core, a pair of rolls for advancing the sheathed core, a slitting unit having a slitting member disposed at one side of the path of the advanced sheathed core, and cam actuating means for simultaneously varying the relative positions of said rolls and moving said slitting unit for varying the position of said cutting member relative to the path of the advanced sheathed core.

19. In an apparatus for removing sheath from a core, a pair of rolls for advancing the sheathed core, a slitting unit pivotally mounted at one end and having the cutting member disposed at the other end, means for varying the pivotal end of said slitting unit relative to the path of the advanced core, and means for varying the position of the other end of said slitting unit relative to the path of the advanced sheathed core.

20. In an apparatus for removing sheath from a core, means for advancing the sheathed core, a pair of slitting units pivotally mounted at adjacent ends and having slitting members disposed at the opposite ends, said slitting units being disposed on opposite sides of the path of the advanced sheathed core, and means for simultaneously varying the relative positions of the pivotal ends of said slitting units for simultaneously varying the relative positions of said slitting units with the path of the advanced sheathed core.

21. In an apparatus for removing sheath from a core, means for advancing the sheathed core, a pair of slitting units pivotally mounted at adjacent ends and having slitting members disposed at the opposite ends, said slitting units being disposed on opposite sides of the path of the advanced sheathed core, means for simultaneously varying the relative positions of the pivotal ends of said slitting units for simultaneously varying the relative positions of said slitting units With the path of the advanced sheathed core, and means for varying relative positions of the other ends of said slitting units for varying the relative positions of said slitting members with the path of the advanced sheathed core.

22. In an apparatus for removing sheath from a core, a pair of rolls for advancing the sheathed core, a slitting unit having a slitting member disposed at one side of the path of the advanced sheathed core, and cam actuating means for simultaneously moving said rolls relative to each other, and moving said slitting unit to move said slitting member relative to the path of the sheathed core at a speed different than the speed of the rolls to compensate for various sizes of sheathed cores.

23. In an apparatus for removing sheath from a core, means for advancing the sheathed core, means for slitting the sheath while being advanced, and a roll disposed adjacent said slitting means having means carried thereby for frictionally engaging the sheath for removing the sheath from the core and moving the sheath into engagement with a cutting means.

24. In an apparatus for removing a sheath from a core, means for advancing a sheathed core, means for slitting the sheath While being advanced, a roll having means disposed at the periphery thereof for engaging the sheath and holding the sheath in engagement with the periphery of said roll while being advanced for removing the sheath from the core, a cutting member having a cutting edge moved to a position adjacent said roll at predetermined interlengths, and means for removing the lengths of sheath from said roll.

25. In an apparatus for removing a sheath from a core, means for advancing the sheathed core, means for slitting the sheath while advanced, a roll having a groove therein, and means disposed at the periphery of said roll for holding the slit sheath in engagement with said roll for removing the sheath from the core, means for cutting the sheath into predetermined lengths while in engagement with said roll, and means extending into the groove of said roll for removing the cut portions of sheath therefrom.

26. In an apparatus for removing a sheath, from a core, a pair of rolls for advancing the sheathed core, means for supporting each of said rolls, a pair of slitting units for slitting the sheath while being advanced, and means for simultaneously moving said supporting means for varying the relative positions of said rolls and simultaneously moving said slitting units to compensate for sheathed cores of various sizes.

27. In an apparatus for removing a sheath from a core, a pair of rolls, supporting units for each of said rolls, cam members for carrying said supporting members, means for moving said cam members simultaneously for moving said supporting members for varying the relative positions of said rolls, and means for slitting the sheath passing between said rolls.

28. In an apparatus for removing a sheath from a core, a pair of supporting units, cams for carrying said supporting units, advancing rolls carried by said supporting units, prickle rolls carried by said supporting units, slitting units disposed between said supporting units for slitting the sheath of the sheathed core advanced by said advancing rolls while passing between said prickle rolls, means carried by said prickle rolls for engaging the slit portions of the sheath for holding the portions adjacent to the peripheries of the prickle rolls, cutting members carried by said supporting units for cutting the portions of the sheath into predetermined lengths, means for removing the cut lengths of sheath from the prickle rolls, and means for moving said cams simultaneously for moving said supporting unit for varying the relative positions of said advancing rolls and said prickle rolls.

29. In an apparatus for removing a sheath from a core, a pair of supporting units, cams for carrying said supporting units, advancing rolls carried by said supporting units, prickle rolls vals for cutting the sheath into predetermined carried by said supporting units, slitting units disposed between said supporting units for slitting the sheath of the sheathed core advanced by said advancing rolls While passing between said prickle rolls, means carried by said prickle rolls for engaging the slit portions of the sheath for holding the portions adjacent the peripheries of the prickle rolls, cutting members carried by said supporting units for cutting the portions of the sheath into predetermined lengths, means for removing the cut lengths of sheath from the prickle rolls, means for moving said cams simu1- taneously for moving said supporting unit for varying the relative positions of said advancing rolls and said prickle rolls, slitting unit actuating cams operatively connecting said supporting unit actuating cams for moving said slitting units simultaneously during the simultaneous movement of said supporting units for varying the relative positions of said slitting units.

30. In an apparatus for removing a sheath from a core, a roll for compressing the sheath, pricking members extending radially from the periphery of said roll for pricking the sheath, and means for slitting the sheath, said members pricking the slit sheath and holding it adjacent the periphery of said roll to remove the sheath from the core.

31. In an apparatus for removing a sheath from a core, a roll for compressing the sheath and having a groove in the periphery thereof, pricking members extending radially from the periphery of said roll for pricking the sheath, means for slitting the sheath, the members pricking the slit sheath and holding it adjacent the periphery of said roll to remove the sheath from the core, and an element disposed in the groove in said roll for removing the sheath from the roll.

32. In an apparatus for removing a sheath from a core, a pair of slitting elements for slitting opposite sides of a sheathed core, a pair of rolls for advancing the sheathed core, means for simultaneously moving said rolls relative to each other, and said slitting elements relative to each other, the amount of relative movement of said rolls differing from the amount of relative movement of said slitting elements.

LOUIS S. DEITZ, JR. 

